Energy. Environment. Economy.

New York Governor Says He'll Make Fracking Decision Before 2014 Election

As the Harrisburg reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania, Marie Cusick covers energy and environmental issues for public radio stations statewide. She’s also part of NPR’s energy and environment team, which coordinates coverage between the network and select member station reporters around the country. Her work frequently airs on NPR shows including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. Since 2012, Marie has closely followed the political, social, environmental, and economic effects of Pennsylvania’s natural gas boom. Her work has been recognized at the regional and national levels– honors include a Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and a national Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association. Previously, Marie was a multimedia reporter for WMHT in Albany, New York and covered technology for the station’s statewide public affairs TV show, New York NOW. In 2018, she became StateImpact’s first FAA-licensed drone pilot.

Jan Somma-Hammel/Staten Island Advance /Landov

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, says he will make a decision on lifting the state's fracking moratorium before 2014.Hammel/Staten Island Advance /Landov

Cuomo, a Democrat in his third year, says he’s waiting for the results of a review by his state health commissioner, Dr. Nivah Shah. Those results should be ready within several weeks, Cuomo said Wednesday during an editorial meeting with The Post-Standard and Syracuse Media Group.
“I expected it to be concluded already,” Cuomo said, adding that Shah has said the review of potential health effects from the deep drilling method should be done in the next several weeks. “It’s not in the distant future. But it’s not done yet.”

New York’s health commissioner Dr. Nivah Shah says he’s looking at several large-scale public health studies related to fracking, including two in Pennsylvania.Shah has cited a study by the Danville-based Geisinger Health System. However research there is still getting underway, and the first phase of the study isn’t expected to be completed for three to five years.
Meanwhile, critics in Pennsylvania have complained the state Department of Health hasn’t been given a bigger regulatory role when it comes to gas drilling.
The agency doesn’t receive any funding from the Act 13 impact fees, which have brought in over $400 million in the past two years.